On the road, 'cheetahs' have the advantage

Here is an analogy for the general public and traffic safety officials on pedestrian deaths:

A herd of gazelles (pedestrians) go out to graze (into the crosswalks) for their survival. But out there is a cheetah (driver) who is fast and strong who is running down the gazelles and killing them. It does not help giving gazelles better eyes (making eye contact, more flashing and numbered lights) or make them run faster (some are young, old, injured), the cheetah will win.

All efforts should be directed at the cheetah (driver). If necessary, cut off his ears (cell phones, listening distractions) wire shut his mouth (talking on cell phone, talking distractions, eating and drinking), and if this still doesn't work, amputate one leg, then two if it persists. Some drivers and officials though, will still not get it.

Ken Chang
Kaneohe

There's no good reason for so many potholes

So I see by news reports that we had 81,000 potholes so far this year. I assume that is only the ones that have been identified. I could point out another 81,000 potholes.

Rains should not have caused all that damage. It seems clear that our streets are not made of good material. And perhaps the material used to fill the potholes is not as good as it should be.

Perhaps our city government is not really aware of what sort of materials we are using in our streets. Clearly the material is not as strong as it should be. Water should not hurt it. If our mayor will not take strong action to fix this matter, then the City Council should. Instead of asking questions of the bureaucracy, the Council should hire an independent firm to look into the matter and come back with a report.

It is very disturbing that the city government is so lax in the matter of streets and sewers. (Remember the Sand Island treatment plant and the huge amounts of money that will be required to fix it.) They should be willing to do the work to give us good city government. Apparently, that is not the case. If the mayor is not willing to do what is necessary for streets and sewers, we should get a different mayor.

Mark Terry
Honolulu

Predecessors' potholes provide bumpy road

Kudos to the City and County of Honolulu pothole repair workers, but Honolulu roads are intolerable!

The issue dates back to mayors Frank Fasi, Jeremy Harris and a complicit City Council. Now Brudda Mufi is tasked with the indomitable project of road repair. Fasi would never have let Honolulu roads go to pot.

William King
Honolulu

Frazier's losses are stacking up

Is it time for the University of Hawaii's athletic director to go? How many more things can Herman Frazier screw up?

The 2007 football schedule; giving Hawaii's Sugar Bowl tickets to Georgia; not setting limits on the number of tickets one person could buy (on TV it showed one person buying 100 tickets). Now is he trying to keep secret who gets all the UH reserve tickets?

I've probably missed some other snafus, but these are the major ones I can quickly recall.

Earl Batteen
Aiea

Too much faithfulness might have drawbacks

Members of every religion believe theirs is the one that is right and spiritually closest to God, whoever their God may be.

Christians have many denominations, including nondenominations, and every denomin- ation from Methodist, Seventh-day Adventist, Mormon, Baptist, Lutheran, Assembly of God and the Evangelistic all believe that their Christian beliefs are better and the only way.

The Jewish faith has reform conservative, re-constructive, orthodox messianic and Hasidim; all of them believe they are more correct than the other.

Muslims have their beliefs and obviously they believe they are the one and only.

One does not need a building with four walls to go and worship. Money can buy a house of worship but not a relationship with the divine one.

Come judgment day I believe all of us are going to be in for a rude awakening when we approach our God and say, "Oh, that's what you meant, Lord."

Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah and have a wonderful New Year.

James "Kimo" Rosen
Kapaa, Kauai

Morality isn't exclusive to persons of faith

I'm sorry, but once again I have to come to the defense of atheists ("Beliefs do determine how someone leads," Star Bulletin letters, Dec. 14).

As an atheist, I do not lack morality. In fact I have a strong moral code that guides my life in many ways, including whom I vote for and, if I ever had the inclination or opportunity (which in the United States is impossible right now since I am an atheist), how I would lead.

When I see some of the highly immoral positions taken by many of our leaders who tout themselves as people of faith -- unwillingness to decry torture, unwillingness to support universal health care, racism and overall a lack of concern for the less fortunate -- I almost despair.

I know enough of the Christian message (I was brought up as one and have thought at length about it) to know that my atheist's morality is more in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ than is that of many politicians who profess to be Christians.

Robert H. Cowie
Kaneohe

Iraq war is legal until Congress says so

I am tired of reading anti-Iraq war letters stating the Iraq war illegal. It may be wrong or right depending on your political point of view, but according to the U.S. Constitution, Congress is the only governmental body that can declare war.

Congress gave the president authority to declare war in Iraq in the Iraq Resolution. That also has been confirmed in previous court cases. So please stop showing your ignorance.

James Hirotsu
Wailuku, Maui

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